HAVRE, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball program defeated MSU-Northern 67-62 Thursday night.
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The Argos (19-7) scored the first basket of the game off an and one layup from sophomore
Keanna Salave'a, but a three-pointer from the Skylights (12-15) tied the game at three. Â
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Both teams traded baskets until a three from sophomore
Eliannah Ramirez put UP in front 12-10 midways through the second.
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Each side continued to go back and forth for the rest of the quarter but a pair of threes from senior
Ashlee Maldonado and Ramirez gave UP a 20-17 lead heading into the second.
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Salave'a opened the second with a layup to increase UP's lead to five, and following a basket from the Skylights, a 9-0 run behind a three from sophomore
Taliah Lee and a pair of layups from senior
Ashlee Maldonado put UP ahead 31-19.
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The Skylights answered ending the half on an 11-0 run as UP went into the break leading by one.
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MSU-Northern scored the first 10 points of the third quarter, but UP responded with 16 straight of their own to retake the lead 47-40.
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The Skylights slowly cut into the Argo lead the rest of the quarter as UP went into the fourth tied at 47.
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Sophomore
McKenna Reggear opened the fourth quarter with a jumper to put UP ahead by two, but neither side could grab a lead by more than three until free throws from Maldonado and a triple from Lee put UP in front 59-53 midways through the quarter.
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The Skylights would cut the lead to two with 2:22 remaining, but the Argos made their free throws down the stretch as UP defeated MSU-Northern 67-62.
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Keanna Salave'a led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds,
Ashlee Maldonado scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds while
Taliah Lee and
Eliannah Ramirez added 10 points apiece.
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The Argos will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 22 when they travel to Butte, Mont. Tip-off versus Montana Tech is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (MST).
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